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A Modern Take on the Mother Sauces

Master the mother sauces at the heart of French cuisine with whisk-by-whisk instruction from chef and cookbook author James Peterson.

Join the class awarded "2014 Best Culinary Video Series" by the International Association of Culinary Professionals! Explore classic and modern sauce-making techniques that will expand your skill set and spur your culinary creativity. With James Peterson, a seven-time James Beard award-winning cookbook author, you’ll learn how to make the five classic French mother sauces: béchamel, tomato sauce, brown sauce (sauce espagnole), velouté and hollandaise, along with beurre blanc and mayonnaise – two additional sauces that James believes are a must. Once you’ve mastered the key processes, experimenting with flavors gives you endless sauce options and makes your cooking unique. James will also show you how to keep your sauces from breaking – and how to salvage them if they do.

Lesson 1. Meet James Peterson

Lesson 2. Béchamel Sauce

Lesson 3. Beurre Blanc

James explains emulsions and teaches you to make traditional beurre blanc, as well as variations.

26:33

Lesson 4. Tomato Sauces

Master the art of the ever-versatile tomato sauce.

30:06

Lesson 5. Brown Sauce

Learn the history behind brown sauce before making your own using bones and broth.

22:48

Lesson 6. Velouté Sauce

Learn how to make velouté sauce from chicken broth.

28:59

Lesson 7. Mayonnaise & Aioli

Make mayonnaise and aioli, then use your new sauce knowledge to add flavor to fish and vegetable dishes.

31:03

Lesson 8. Hollandaise & Béarnaise

Make hollandaise and béarnaise from scratch.

"James Peterson is an excellent instructor. I love his appropriate tone inflections (he's a pleasure to listen to) and the additional tips he gives - especially on the color and consistency you should expect of sauces and any herbs you add in. The intent of the class is to teach you to make these on your own. I appreciated most that it wasn't a "video recipe book" for dishes, but a foundational course where you can learn to make traditional and modern French sauces and then twist them into unique dishes on your own." - emilylowreyWashington, D.C.

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Lesson plan

3:20

Lesson 1. Meet James Peterson

Meet your award-winning instructor, James Peterson.

22:18

Lesson 2. Béchamel Sauce

Learn to make béchamel sauce with James's step-by-step instruction.

22:39

Lesson 3. Beurre Blanc

James explains emulsions and teaches you to make traditional beurre blanc, as well as variations.

26:33

Lesson 4. Tomato Sauces

Master the art of the ever-versatile tomato sauce.

30:06

Lesson 5. Brown Sauce

Learn the history behind brown sauce before making your own using bones and broth.

22:48

Lesson 6. Velouté Sauce

Learn how to make velouté sauce from chicken broth.

28:59

Lesson 7. Mayonnaise & Aioli

Make mayonnaise and aioli, then use your new sauce knowledge to add flavor to fish and vegetable dishes.

31:03

Lesson 8. Hollandaise & Béarnaise

Make hollandaise and béarnaise from scratch.

The instructor

James Peterson, Instructor of A Modern Take on the Mother Sauces

James is the author of 15 cookbooks, a seven-time James Beard award winner, and has cooked in great restaurants in France and around the globe.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(34 reviews)

Aioli

by jcornwell7996500 on July 21, 2015

I can only speak to the aioli segment, but I tried it this morning and it came out perfectly in my brand new mortar and pestle. I had no trouble getting the aioli to come together. Thank you.

I can only speak to the aioli segment, but I tried it this morning and it came out perfectly in my brand new mortar and pestle. I had no trouble getting the aioli to come together. Thank you.

Perfect Craftsy Class With An Amazing Instructor

by arachne_knits on July 6, 2015

This is probably one of the best classes I've taken. James Patterson is such an experienced chef and teacher and it comes across on screen. He's also pleasurable to watch and cook along with because he is relaxed and talking as though you are right there with him. I also appreciated all the tips on techniques, historical notes and his comments on his experiences. His book "Sauces" is so comprehensive and fundamental that it's a must have. This class enhances understanding of the ...

This is probably one of the best classes I've taken. James Patterson is such an experienced chef and teacher and it comes across on screen. He's also pleasurable to watch and cook along with because he is relaxed and talking as though you are right there with him. I also appreciated all the tips on techniques, historical notes and his comments on his experiences. His book "Sauces" is so comprehensive and fundamental that it's a must have. This class enhances understanding of the "Mother" sauces and will take your cooking to the next level. Watching him actually take each sauce and break down the step by step process was so instructive. I have watched many lessons several times and learn more each time - this will be a class I return to frequently. I highly recommend this class for both novice and more "seasoned" cooks. I'd love to see more classes by Chef Peterson!

Perfect Craftsy Class With An Amazing Instructor

by arachne_knits on July 6, 2015

This is probably one of the best classes I've taken. James Patterson is such an experienced chef and teacher and it comes across on screen. He's also pleasurable to watch and cook along with because he is relaxed and talking as though you are right there with him. I also appreciated all the tips on techniques, historical notes and his comments on his experiences. His book "Sauces" is so comprehensive and fundamental that this class enhances understanding of the "Mother" ...

This is probably one of the best classes I've taken. James Patterson is such an experienced chef and teacher and it comes across on screen. He's also pleasurable to watch and cook along with because he is relaxed and talking as though you are right there with him. I also appreciated all the tips on techniques, historical notes and his comments on his experiences. His book "Sauces" is so comprehensive and fundamental that this class enhances understanding of the "Mother" sauces. Watching him actually take each sauce and break down the step by step process was so instructive. I have watched many lessons several times and learn more each time. This will be a class I return to frequently. I highly recommend this class for both novice and more "seasoned" cooks. I'd love to see more classes by Chef Peterson!

An Ideal Course for Craftsy

by vpeck6742615 on July 5, 2015

French cooking is 99% technique.Watching someone construct the sauces and explain the finer points gives you an understanding that even the best cookbooks can't convey. The Craftsy platform allows one to replay sessions over and over and peruse questions from other students and responses. And I must say I have replayed many sections from this course over and over again. I recall reading the New York Times about the Nouvelle Cuisine during the 70s. Having participated in this cooking, James ...

French cooking is 99% technique.Watching someone construct the sauces and explain the finer points gives you an understanding that even the best cookbooks can't convey. The Craftsy platform allows one to replay sessions over and over and peruse questions from other students and responses. And I must say I have replayed many sections from this course over and over again. I recall reading the New York Times about the Nouvelle Cuisine during the 70s. Having participated in this cooking, James Peterson is able to show both the technique and philosophy and to contrast this with the classic French sauces of Escoffier. If you,like I, have tried your hand at French sauces in the past and have been disappointed or inconsistent, this is the ideal course for you.

I'm in love...

by renee8321553 on May 30, 2015

I am so in love with this class!! Soooo much information but it's presented in such a relaxed and comfortable way. Very easy to follow and understand. I have wanted to learn about sauces for a long time and I'm so excited to have found this class!

I am so in love with this class!! Soooo much information but it's presented in such a relaxed and comfortable way. Very easy to follow and understand. I have wanted to learn about sauces for a long time and I'm so excited to have found this class!